Second Period
Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
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Compromise candidate
War hero; seen as trustworthy, honest, possessed good integrity
Supported Radical Reconstruction and suffrage of blacks
Won closest election (185-184 Electoral votes) over Samuel Tilden
Democrats agreed to support his election if Reconstruction ended
Called for local government in the South
Wanted federal funding for education, not railroads
Faced problem of removing troops from the South
Faced a depressed economy
Rutherford B. Hayes accomplishments and problems
Accomplishments:
Rutherford supervised the End of Reconstruction
Vetoed Bland-Allison act to recover the country’s economy
Problems:
Advocating Civil reform
Rutherford Hayes Future impact
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Healed Civil War wounds
Magna Carta (Pendleton Act) made appointments to federal jobs and
established civil-service reform
Age of industry
Railroads were built
Industries were growing
Garfield Before the Election
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Youngest Major General in US Army
Radical Republican
Served in congress for 18 years
Strong abolitionist
Major issues the Administration faced
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Corruption in government; Post office ‘star route’
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Profitable routes in southwest, workers in post office would bid and get $$$
Patronage system
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Caused huge problems for Garfield, Conkling vs. Blaine
Chester A. Arthur: The Unsolved Problems
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Vetoed the Pork-Barrel Rivers and Harbors Act of 1882
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$19 million
Various river and harbor facilities.
South
Congress, two-thirds
Lower Tariffs
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20 to 25 percent reduction
Congress “Mongrel” Tariff of 1883
Dropped rates various items
Average of 1.47
Chester A. Arthur: The Future Impacts
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Enacted the General Federal Immigration Law
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Pendleton Act
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Suspended Chinese Immigration (10 years)
Chinese helped economy
Transcontinental railroad
Permanent
Bipartisan Civil Service Commission
■ Merit System
■ Performance over political patronage
■ Began service at the bottom
Renovated White House
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Exceeded $30,000
$2,000,000
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
Election of 1885: Cleveland vs. Blaine
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First democrat elected after the civil war.
only US president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
support of democrats and reform republicans. who disliked James G. Blaine
“Lust vs. Law”
Issues administration faced:
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Bland- Allison act
Tried to limit government spending
Fought to have protective tariffs lowered.
disputed boundary between Alaska and British Columbia
Increased influence of special interests on government
Grover Cleveland 1885-1889
Accomplishments:
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Interstate commerce act
Presidential Succession Act
Withdrawal of the Frelinghuysen-Zavala Treaty
opposed the partisan “spoils system” in the civil
Service
private legislation to benefit particular constituents
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
Unsolved Problems:
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Deflation: amount of money in circulation couldn’t keep up with the country’s
growing wealth
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Dispute over tariffs: Cleveland proposed bill to reduce tariffs, was defeated by
predominantly Republican Senate
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No progress in Civil Rights or women’s suffrage
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Continued era of complacency: didn’t send much legislation to Congress
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
Future Impact:
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Limited Chinese immigration, which promoted anti-immigrant sentiments
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Used the veto more than any other president, but didn’t submit much
legislation: President is strong, but inactive
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Hands-off government: “Though the people support the government, the
government should not support the people.”
Grover Cleveland (BLANK)
Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
How elected? How perceived by public? Who supported?
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Took side of industrialists and factory workers (high protective tariff)
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Gained popularity by speaking for Republican political figures (Garfield in New York)
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Presumptive U.S. Senate (1881-87) where he spent money on internal improvements. (building his
reputation)
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Front Porch Campaign in Indiana
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Focused on swing states- New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Indiana (won NY and IN)
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Tried to heavily appeal to Mugwumps
Major Issues Harrison Administration Faced
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Thomas Reed “controlled House of Representatives” (hard to pass specific laws)
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Republicans accused of irregular ballot practices (Blocks of Five- letters by Harrison’s friend written
to ensure election)
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Civil War reform (specifically veterans). Took lots of time. Congress divided. Pendleton Act?
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Tariff- Raised high amount of funds for U.S. Treasury. Angered Democrats. Republicans wanted
to maintain and spend funds on internal improvements while eliminating some internal taxes
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Monopolies and trusts. How will these issues be dealt with?
Major accomplishments
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Mckinley tariff- heavy tax on imports from foreign country goods- (Spiked U.S. Treasury funds and
made imported goods exceptionally expensive)
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Restored meat (pork) exportation to Europe (contacted germany and France)
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Added six states to the Union- North and South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming
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Solved problem of pirates/ bandits threatening vital shipping routes
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Created precedent for a competition based market- innovation surge on the way...
“An American citizen could not be a good citizen who did not have hope in his heart.”
Issues Left Unsolved by Harrison Administration
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Poor relations among Republican leaders
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Hawaiian Islands remained detached from United States
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Failure to pass bill creating waterway through Central
America
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Failure to hold support in office for reelection
Impact on Future America
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Prohibited future creation of American
Monopolies/Trusts
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Created precedent for veteran pensions
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Set importance on the preservation of National
Parks and forests
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Expanded and developed stronger Naval force
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Developed solid relations with foreign nations
Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)
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Supported by many democrats
His opposition of free coinage of silver was disliked by many southern and
western democrats
Repeat of 1888 election
Accomplishments and Issues
Achievements:
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Cleveland and Congress repeal Sherman Silver Purchase Act (Gold Standard
returns)
Passes Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act and lowered rates from McKinley Tariff
Issues:
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Relations still harmed by intervention of railroad system
Being a Democrat, he was opposed by many Republicans
Economic Panic of 1893 caused havoc politically and economically
Future Impact
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Delayed annexation of Hawai’i
Repeal of Sherman Silver Purchase Act ultimately led to the end of
silver-based American currency
Helped modernize the American navy
William McKinley (1897-1901)
Clayton and Rudy
McKinley’s Life and Election
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Nominated and supported by Marcus Hanna,
Ohio businessman
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election map 1896->
Ran against William Jennings Bryan, populist
“free money” Democrat
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Support came from people as well; McKinley
had experience/credibility
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Won by largest popular majority since Grant
Accomplishments
Foreign
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Domestic
Treaty of Paris (1898) ended the
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Spanish-American War
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Gained Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam
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and the Philippines as U.S. Territories
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Dingley Tariff Act (1897)
War Revenue Act (1898)
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Cuba gained its independance
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Used the money to fund the participation in
the Spanish-American War
Open Door Policy (1899)
Started trade with China
Taxed on various goods like tea, tobacco,
and alcohol
Established a policy known as the
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Promoted American Industry
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Gold Standard Act (1900)
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Removed the option to use silver to redeem
money
Issues
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No improvements in rights for other races
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Did not act on the mistreatment of other races
Future Impact
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Improve the economy of the United States
Continued race issues